Fake Russian
"Leicas" or How do you keep a good
Communist on the farm when he has seen the American Dollar?

One of the MANY fake "Leica" variations.
Pics sent to me by net surfer wishing to identify his "Leica." No real
Leica EVER left the factory looking like this!

"Gold Leica" with snake skin body covering,
complete with 50/3.5 "Elmar" and "Leica" Top plate. Photo
courtesy and copyright of Yong Lee. This same style can be found with the Luftwaffe
engraving as shown on the upper illustration. I almost forgot, it also has a
"Gold" "Leica" lens cap.

Startled visitors to 1995 American camera shows found
new "Leicas" not listed in ANY Leica reference book.
These "Leicas" were mysteriously sold out of suitcases by new
"dealers" with strong Russian accents. Occasionally they
admitted just getting off the plane from Moscow.

The variety and innovation was startling. It
reminded me of a magic wand being waved with the command "Leicas be innovative
and multiply, with lots of military and Nazi engravings." It was an
amazing sight to see, often 50-100 rare "Leica" cameras at a time, in different
colors, finishes, and with amazing never seen before Nazi engravings.

Had the wily Ruskies discovered a lost hoard of rare
Leicas? War booty from Hitler's Berlin? Alas, no. But what the
Russians did discover was Capitalism and the American Dollar. The great
majority of these innovative "Leicas" were converted from knob wind
Zorkis. The earlier Zorki was a copy of the Leica II, and apparently
produced near Moscow in great numbers...hundreds of thousands in fact.

So why do I keep calling these "Leicas?"
Because, that is how the top plate is engraved....well at
least most of them!! In Leica style no less, complete with 50/3.5
"Elmar." Some savvy, capitalism corrupted Russian was smart
enough to realize that near worthless Zorkis engraved with
"Leica" and various Nazism would be worth real American dollars.
These instant collectible would literally fly off his shelves via
Aeroflot, to the foolish Americans waiting in line to turn over the all mighty
coveted American Dollar.

I have no idea who turned out these little gems, if it
was one technician, a team of them, or a whole group of small competing companies.
But they must have done it with huge smiles on their faces, knowing they were
defeating the American capitalists at his own game. Stupid Americans!!
Buying Zorkis with Leica engravings....HA HA HA HA. Of course the
quality was not up to Leica standards, nor were all the little details correct.
These cameras could not fool any seasoned Leica collector, but could easily fool the non
Leica person.

But our innovative story of capitalism does not end here.
Our heroes were not satisfied with merely engraving "Leica" on
hapless Zorkis. No, here we see the true spirit of innovative marketing, the
likes of which would make the legends of American Capitalism proud.

You see, instead of merely contenting
themselves to copy Leicas, the Russian heroes of this story started inventing new
"Leicas," the likes of which no one had ever seen before.
I like these guys.

Variations which I saw (but did not bother to photograph at the time because I
didn't have this site yet) were

the ultra rare "Gold Luxus" with brushed
brass finishes. No gold plate here folks. When these started appearing,
American camera dealers across the nation started getting phone calls from the duped
trying to sell their Luxus. The usually asking price was in the $5,000 to
$10,000 range because they bought the camera for $200 and were foolish enough to believe
it was real. Probably never in the history of American camera stores, have so few
given so many laughs to so many. See pic below.

Basic Chrome and Black finished "Leica"
II's with 50/3.5 "Elmar"

Nazi, Luftwaffe, and Press Engravings of Hitler's
personal photographer, practically in any combination on the basic models above, complete
with Nazi Eagles.

Fancier presentation versions of the above, with
polished lacquered wood body coverings, inset Nazi Eagles with Swastikas, gold inlaid top
plate engravings. These were the new "Leicas," very amazing stuff.
It's really too bad Leica did not show as much innovation with their real cameras.
In other words, these cameras are pretty, and FUN if you are a Leica collector....at least
if you have a warped sense of humor like me.

Occasionally their talents would turn to the Kiev,
the copy of the Contax II. I have seen them in black, with military
olive/brown finish, and with Nazi engravings.

I couldn't help but imagine a group of craftsmen sitting
at the local bar, getting drunk and inventing a new Leica variation, then going
back to the shop the next day and producing it. After all, they were proving
those stupid Americans would buy damn near anything. I keep on hoping
for a magnificent Russian Leica with black enamel finish, polished wood body, gold
Luftwaffe and Nazi markings, sporting an engraving of "Adolph Loves Eva."
Alas, apparently there are limits even to the Russian sense of
humor.

After several years the newness wore off, sales
slackened, and the fake "Leicas" stopped appearing at American camera shows.
In 1998 the demand is starting to catch up with supply, and the few which
show up for sale are selling much faster, and for more money.

While the above "Leica" conversions were done
more in the spirit of fun, a new more serious copy started to appear at a much
higher price. These "Leicas" are of relatively high enough
quality, but not good enough to fool the serious Leica collector. Along these lines
I have seen relatively nice copies of

Leica I with Elmax lens, complete with slight wear,
and supplementary rangefinder.

Alas, all that glitters is not Luxus. Behold a rather well
done Russian Luxus. Pic courtesy YK Wong.

Who knows what "Leica"
lurks in the shadows of Moscow, waiting to pounce on the American Capitalist? Three
cheers for the American Dollar!!

Please note this story was written
from the perspective of what I have seen at American camera shows. If any of
my Russian friends would like to supply more exacting details, I will be happy to correct
my corrupt capitalist treatise.